life lessons

5 Lessons from 55 Trips Around the Sun

March 22, 2021 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

Another year has passed. I added a year to when I answer, “How old are you?” Well, at least in theory. I am an unreliable narrator for reporting my age. By accident. But on a repeated basis.

That said, as I recorded this episode of the podcast, and write these words, I am celebrating 55 trips around the sun (and I complain I don’t get to travel much!).

I’m not sure about claiming wisdom, but I do claim some lessons from those years. Lessons I keep learning and relearning. Lessons I must remind myself about. But lessons that matter to my life.

While there are quite a few, 5 seemed to be appropriate for 55 years. 5 lessons from 55 years on this earth!

I’d love to hear the lessons you’ve learned! And I’d love to hear any questions or thoughts you might have about thriving. But until then, listen in on the 5 lessons I have learned (and keep learning), and let me know if they are lessons you share.

Listen below.

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MORE Life Lessons from Jiu Jitsu

December 17, 2018 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

On multiple days each week, my wife and I play a game. She points to a bruise and asks, “How’d that happen?”

Fair question. But I don’t have a specific question. All I can say is, “Rolling at jiu jitsu.” Yep, my 52 year old body has to tolerate my decision to take up jiu jitsu last January.

A few months after I started going to jiu jitsu, I posted a podcast episode on Lessons I Learned At Jiu Jitsu.

MoreLessonsJiuJitsu Well, here we are, some 11 months later. And I have learned a few more lessons.

Since I posted the first episode, I have continued going to class throughout the week. And with continuing to go, I also progressed. In the Gracie Academy framework, I earned my Combatives Belt back in November. That means that… well… I am still a white belt. Just an advanced white belt!

Which means that I am now allowed in the advanced class, the Blue Belt Cycle.

Which meant that everything I had learned up until then was met with a block or defense when I tried it on a higher ranked belt. It had worked fine before! But now, I was back to square one.

As I have told a few people, it is kind of like when you are in the last year of middle school. You think you are “top dog,” and strut around a little, pretending to own that school. Then, you go to high school. And you discover you are at the bottom of the ladder. Back to beginner. That would be me. Back to beginner.

Humbling? A little. But more of a reminder that progress includes lots of new beginning points. So now, when I can’t make a move (or more likely, when I get submitted and have to tap), I just have to laugh… then learn.

Listen in to this week’s episode for 4 more life lessons I have (re)learned from jiu jitsu.

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MORE Lessons Learned As A Chaplain

February 19, 2018 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

MoreLessonsLearnedChaplain Last week, I shared some lessons I learned while I was a hospital chaplain at the beginning of my career.

In this episode of the podcast, I share another six. That makes a total of ten lessons. But they only scratch the surface. My hope is to share some of the bigger lessons that emerged during that time.

Few people spend the kind of time a chaplain gets to spend with people on the edges of life. Medical staff don’t have the time to spend, as much as they would like to. Most others are only in those settings in the days of a crisis.

My evening hours gave me time with patients, after the doctors and families had gone home, while the nurses were giving medical care. I had the chance to sit with people, while they sat with the big questions of life. I didn’t always have the answers (often didn’t), but I had the time to walk with them as they explored their journeys.

Walking with them taught me the lessons I share today.

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Lessons Learned As A Chaplain

February 12, 2018 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

LessonsLearnedChaplain It was in the early days of my Master’s degree and my clinical training. I spent a summer working as a chaplain intern. Then I joined the staff of the hospital as one of the chaplains. I had the evening shift.

Chaplains have a unique position in hospitals. There to guide the tough times, celebrate the good times, and share in the spiritual journey. And while I was there as a staff member, every day was a learning experience for me.

In fact, I still look back at many critical moments in my learning about life, about caring for people, and the human struggle — and many happened during just the few years I served as a chaplain.

I thought I might reflect a bit with you about the lessons I learned in my years as a hospital chaplain, just to see if they offer anything for you and your journey.

Listen below for part 1 of 2.

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“Commit!”

March 13, 2017 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

It happened long ago, in what feels like another life. And the story I tell is absolutely true (as far as I absolutely remember it happening this way!). I promise accuracy, as far as my memory is capable.

Early in my college life, my rather foolish young man’s brain thought it made sense to drive to the beach, toward a pending hurricane. . . and surf! I will readily admit that if my kids checked in with me about their plans, I would urge them to reconsider. And likely knowing this would also be true in my case, I did not check in with my parents.

Not surprisingly, we were able to find a good room for cheap. It would appear that all the traffic we saw going the other way, as we headed to the coast, were those leaving behind rooms.

In my own defense, this was in the day when people would ride out a storm, proudly buying an “I survived Hurricane ______” t-shirt.

I don’t have a t-shirt, but I did learn a lesson. I apply it every single day, as I strive to thrive.

Can I tell you my little story? Listen below. . .

(I mentioned my new book. Please Check It Out HERE!)

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